Abdul Carter Benched Again? What's the Latest Word on Why He's Not Starting

New York Giants pass-rusher Abdul Carter was benched for the start of Monday's game against the New England Patriots, which is not the first time something similar has happened this season.

ESPN's Laura Rutledge said on the broadcast that Carter didn't play on New England's opening drive because of a "coach's decision."

According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, Carter was benched for "missing all/part of a team responsibility."

Connor Hughes of SNY noted the Penn State product was also benched earlier this campaign due to a missed walk-through and "repeated meeting tardiness."

Carter was also benched for the Giants' Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers.

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ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in the aftermath there was speculation the rookie was benched for that contest because he slept through a walk-through practice. However, Carter denied that and said he was receiving treatment before realizing interim head coach Mike Kafka changed the traditional practice times.

"My mistake was an honest mistake," Carter said. "I own the fact that it was an honest mistake. I was getting treatment and I told Coach Kafka that, too. But to say I was sleeping at that time just wasn't true. And it also wasn't a trend. This was the only time it happened."

Yet Monday's benching is the second one in three games under Kafka and surely not what the team that made him a franchise cornerstone during the 2025 draft wanted to see.

New York selected Carter with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, but he has not made the expected impact in the early stages of his career. In fact, he had just 0.5 sacks through his first 12 games and has been an afterthought at times in the pass-rush.

Considering Carter was the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year and an All-American when he was at Penn State, it was reasonable to expect immediate production.

Instead, he has been an inconsistent performer when he is on the field and is now making headlines for more than just his play.